Monday, March 07, 2011

Canadian NHRA Pro Modified teams preparing to head to Florida

Maier, Commisso, and Lang to race in upcoming NHRA Gatornationals

March 7, 2011 – Canada will be well-represented in the NHRA Get Screened American Pro Mod Series at the upcoming NHRA Gatornationals in Florida.

Ike Maier of Tottenham, Ontario, Raymond Commisso of Toronto, Ontario, and Ken Lang of Grand Pointe, Manitoba will all be making the trek to Gainesville for the second race in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series tour.

The Pro Mod session at Gainesville will be the first of 10 such events at selected NHRA races this year.

"It should be interesting this year with the rules changes," noted Maier, who will be driving his 1963 Corvette Pro Mod. "The most important change is the reduction in the blower drive, and a lot of teams will be struggling to get the right combination."

In December of 2010, the NHRA modified the supercharger overdrive requirements which are now set at 14.5 percent from the previous 20 percent.

Other changes to the Pro Mod class, which the NHRA has now embraced after treating it as a exhibition class for several years, include automatic transmissions in the cars (with a 75-pound weight reduction), and the use of automated/electric/pneumatic shifting devices.

Commisso will be driving the ProCare RX 1968 Camaro, and former IHRA Pro Mod champion Lang will be in his 1953 Corvette-bodied Pro Mod.

The Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals will be held March 10-13, and will be the 43rd annual event at the northern Florida track. Qualifying sessions for the Pro Mod class are scheduled for Friday, March 11, and Saturday, March 12, with eliminations Sunday March 13.

Photo Credit: Roger Richards and Canadian Drag Racing Photos - www.canadiandragracingphotos.com